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Bigger is still best!
Posted by Barry Nutley on 25th February 2009 at 11:24 am
Domestic applications of rainwater harvesting have been the focus of previous blogs. However, there is even more potential in commercial buildings. With current economic conditions, we all need to reduce costs, and/or increase sales. Rainwater harvesting can help both: Rainwater can be used to…
Posted in: Rainwater harvesting
Is bigger better?
Posted by Barry Nutley on 11th February 2009 at 9:38 am
Renewable energy can be a little confusing. For example, explaining to some people that doubling the size of a solar thermal system isn't necessarily a good thing, but doubling the size of a solar PV system is; doubling the size of a heat pump isn't a good idea, but doubling the size of a wind turbi…
Posted in: Rainwater harvesting
It never rains, it pours
Posted by Barry Nutley on 22nd January 2009 at 8:54 am
Rainwater harvesting was the focus of my last blog. Today I want to get you thinking about water, and what it means for us in the UK. Keen gardeners and allotment owners, are well aware of the issues with water. While a good bit of rain is great, a torrid downpour isn't. As an allotmenteer …
Posted in: Rainwater harvesting
Rainwater harvesting: isn't it just a large water butt?
Posted by Barry Nutley on 8th January 2009 at 11:40 am
For many people, the idea of collecting rainwater, doesn't seem as sexy as, say, solar, and I know from personal experience, it's not a conversation for a first date. But it is just as important as solar and other renewable energy technologies. For my first blog, rather than write an essay on ra…
Posted in: Rainwater harvesting
Renewable energy made normal
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 15th April 2009 at 8:19 am
Congratulations to the Forestry Commission in Wales which is doing a great job of bringing renewable energy into the mainstream. We had a well-earned rest over Easter at Nant yr Arian, near Aberystwyth. Though our main reason for going there was the excellent mountain bike tracks they've built there…
Posted in: General, Biomass, Rainwater harvesting
Ban power showers?
Posted by Barry Nutley on 11th April 2009 at 10:15 am
Banning power showers was the subject of a debate on Jeremy Vine's show on Radio 2 last Monday. It prompted many a response from listeners. The facts surrounding our lack of water in many parts of the UK are reasonably well documented (including on previously blog posts on this site), so the idea is…
Posted in: Rainwater harvesting
Building a new home?
Posted by Barry Nutley on 23rd March 2009 at 8:57 am
Houses are being built, even during these hard, economic times, in particular in the self-build market. These homes tend to be more bespoke, and often the client wants them to achieve higher standards of energy efficiency. So I have put together a brief summary of how rainwater harvesting can help. …
Posted in: Rainwater harvesting
Rainwater harvesting is good for business
Posted by Barry Nutley on 18th May 2009 at 11:08 am
Rainwater harvesting systems can provide a variety of economic benefits to businesses. Alongside the standard irrigation and toilet flushing, it can also be used for cooling systems. In some areas it also reduces the risk of flooding. Generally, the systems with the fastest payback periods us…
Posted in: Rainwater harvesting
Rainwater tank: underground or overground?
Posted by Barry Nutley on 29th June 2009 at 9:26 am
In rainwater harvesting retrofit projects, the cost of installing a kit underground can seriously impact the financial viability, and ultimately put people off the idea. Below are some considerations to help you make the right decision: 1) Pros for underground: a). No unsightly equipmen…
Posted in: Rainwater harvesting
Maintaining your rainwater harvesting system
Posted by Barry Nutley on 22nd July 2009 at 9:10 am
How much maintenance of a rainwater harvesting system is needed, is a common question. As with any appliance, regular maintenance ensures optimum performance, and increases life. So here I aim to answer some of the common questions: 1. Do I have to clear the leaves out of the filter?Not necessar…
Posted in: Rainwater harvesting
Old homes can be energy efficient: visit a superhome and be inspired
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 27th July 2009 at 9:08 am
Old homes tend to be the worst offenders when it comes to leaking hot air out into the atmosphere. This means higher than average energy bills, and correspondingly high carbon emissions. Often labelled 'hard to treat', older homes can be more complicated when it comes to installing energy eff…
Posted in: Energy efficiency, Heat pumps, Rainwater harvesting, Solar electricity, Solar heat & hot water
Dealing with silt in your rainwater harvesting system
Posted by Barry Nutley on 29th July 2009 at 4:13 pm
Over time, silt will build up at the bottom of a rainwater tank. Imagine you have a bucket of mud and water. If you leave it, the mud will settle at the bottom leaving clear water at the top. If you then empty another bucket of water straight in, the pressure of this water stirs up the mud, making t…
Posted in: Rainwater harvesting
Solutions to common rainwater harvesting problems
Posted by Barry Nutley on 19th August 2009 at 2:30 pm
This months blog offers solution to some of the possible problems people with rainwater harvesting systems may encounter. Some may appear obvious, but... 1) Toilet cisterns do not refill after flushing. i. Possible power failure to pump. Check power supply is OK.ii. Pressure switch fail…
Posted in: Rainwater harvesting
Rainwater harvesting: small is beautiful
Posted by Barry Nutley on 5th October 2009 at 11:49 am
When we think of rainwater harvesting, we tend to envisage a full scale domestic system with a large tank, say 4000 litres, buried underground, providing water to the toilets, washing machine et al. This can be a costly business (especially if it's a retrofit project) with not much change from £7,0…
Posted in: Rainwater harvesting
Will it cost me more to harvest rainwater?
Posted by Barry Nutley on 26th October 2009 at 2:32 pm
Rainwater harvesting systems tend to be pumped, causing people to ask the following questions : 1. "Does the cost of running the pump negate any savings made?" 2. "By running a pump, are we increasing our carbon emissions, and negating any environmental benefits?" Well, to answer those…
Posted in: Rainwater harvesting
The wettest winter for years
Posted by Barry Nutley on 14th December 2009 at 10:20 am
With all the rain we've had recently, it's difficult to convince people that water really is in short supply for some of us. However, what we need to consider is where does it all go, and why, if it's so wet, is it scarce? To answer those questions very briefly: 1. Population is increasing, as…
Posted in: Rainwater harvesting
How do rainwater harvesting systems cope with frost and snow
Posted by Barry Nutley on 20th January 2010 at 9:07 am
As the snow and frost begin to thaw we look at the impact that has on rainwater harvesting, and what to do about it. Underground tank: 1. As far as the tank, and any components housed within it are concerned, very little, if any, extra care is needed. The temperature of the ground at …
Posted in: Rainwater harvesting
Rainwater harvesting: where are the incentives?
Posted by Barry Nutley on 5th March 2010 at 9:06 am
The recent announcements surrounding the feed-in tariff (FIT) and renwable heat incentive (RHI), are (generally) fantastic news for the renewable industry. But the Government seems to have forgotten about rainwater harvesting. Whilst technically not a renewable technology, water is still an impor…
Posted in: Rainwater harvesting
Population pressures could make water shortages a UK crisis
Posted by Barry Nutley on 16th April 2010 at 9:20 am
We've had one of the wettest winters in history, and it would be easy to think that we have no issues with the level of potable water in this country. I've mentioned in previous blogs that there are other issues that suggest that water (or potential lack of it) is still a problem we need to address.…
Posted in: Rainwater harvesting
Rainwater harvesting: how to avoid sharks
Posted by Barry Nutley on 28th May 2010 at 9:31 am
A recent report by Which?, suggested that there are many "solar sharks" in the industry. We have been asked if there is a similar problem in the rainwater harvesting industry? And what to look out for? Firstly, let me say that I don't believe that there is the same sort of problem in the industry…
Posted in: Rainwater harvesting
Is water the new carbon?
Posted by Barry Nutley on 15th July 2010 at 11:20 am
I've mentioned the importance of water saving in previous blogs, but is it set to become the most talked about environmental issue? I recently read an article eluding to this: David Symons, director of consultancy WSP Environment & Energy, before his presentation at IWEX on Wednesday, Is w…
Posted in: General, Rainwater harvesting
Smelly brown water from my rainwater tank!!
Posted by Barry Nutley on 4th August 2010 at 8:30 am
Q: Smelly brown water is coming through my rainwater harvesting system. I have been advised to add chlorine to the underground tank. What do you think? A: Whilst that will work. It's not the ideal solution. Adding chlorine will probably solve the problem in the short term, but realistically you …
Posted in: Rainwater harvesting
How to deal with bacteria in a rainwater harvesting tank
Posted by Barry Nutley on 20th May 2011 at 9:32 am
Q: I have been told that bacteria is avoided by having small ultra violet light at the top as bacteria collects on the surface A: Yes, UV filtration will kill off any bacteria that develops in rainwater harvesting tanks (both above and below ground). However, UV will kill everything off, so i…
Posted in: Rainwater harvesting
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